By the time most of us return to work after New Year’s Day, we will have seen a majority of the highly acclaimed, much discussed films that will feature prominently during awards seasons. Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lincoln, Moonrise Kingdom, Silver Linings Playbook, all of these will be in our rear view. That’s when we have to steel ourselves for the inevitable: the cinematic dumping grounds of January, when many studios choose to introduce films that wouldn’t stand a chance at the box office in any other month of the year. Can anyone remember Contraband? Joyful Noise? Man on a Ledge? Didn’t think so. But fear not – we will be shining a bright light of cinematic hope this January at Stateside at the Paramount, when we proudly host the highly anticipated Austin premiere of THE MAN FROM ORLANDO.

This hilarious new film from director Craig Elrod and writers Elrod and Jason Newman tells the story of Orlando (Newman), a lifeguard in the summer and gangster in the winter, who abandons his life of crime and moves back to his hometown of Priddy, Texas. After getting in over his head with his Olympic swimmer ex-girlfriend and a crew of volunteer firefighters, his former lifeguard gang comes after him and the contents of his fanny pack.

This movie truly has it all. Laughs! Romance! Criminal Lifeguards! And most importantly, it shines the spotlight on a remarkably talented, local Austin cast and crew, with the likes of John Merriman, Chris Doubek, Byron Brown, and many others all featuring memorably in the film. So don’t throw your money away seeing whatever Hollywood tells you to see; come to the Stateside and support your local filmmakers! We’ll see you Saturday January 12th at 8:00pm (doors at 7:00pm), and be sure to stick around for a Q&A with the cast & crew after the screening!